Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

95. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the improvements to water quality during the lifetime of the fifth nitrates action programme in Ireland, which runs from 2022 to 2025, and in particular since the reduction in the maximum organic manure limit from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha being implemented in targeted areas in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35553/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Yesterday the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) published their Water Quality Monitoring Report on Nitrogen and Phosphorous concentrations in Irish waters 2024.

This annual report provides an update on the results of water quality monitoring to support the assessment of the impact of our Nitrate’s Derogation on Irish waters.

This report is prepared to meet one of the conditions attached to Ireland's current Nitrates Derogation.

The report shows a 10% overall reduction in the nitrate concentrations in most regions last year. Indeed, the data published yesterday by the EPA is in line with their early insights report on nitrate levels for 2024 which they published in March.

Given that there is an average lag time of approximately two years from implementation of a measure to it translating to improving water quality data under Irish conditions, this report gives a solid indication that the measures introduced since 2022 under Ireland's 5th Nitrates Action Programme are working.

Over the last number of years, farmers have embraced a significant number of new and enhanced measures to improve our water quality. The entire agri-food sector is also engaging in significant, unprecedented action to reduce its impact on water quality. It is premature to attribute these reductions to anyone one individual measure but rather it results from the suite of actions being taken by farmers.

This action on the ground is being supported by Government through measures such as the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership, ASSAP, the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme, and TAMS grant aid supporting investments in nutrient storage and new slurry spreading technologies.

All of these actions have the objective of reducing agriculture's impact on water quality. The reduction in nitrate concentrations in our rivers last year is a positive endorsement regarding these actions and efforts. We need to maintain this momentum.

As we look to the future, there is strong cross-Government support to build on the current engagement and momentum to improve water quality and to support Ireland’s case for a continuation of our Nitrates Derogation post-2025.